The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-10-12
BUSY OCTOBER ON THE FARM
THE GOLDEN GRAIN AND THE FLEEcY
STAPLE.
Potatoes and Wheat for Man...Grass
and Oats for Beasts.


and Oats for Beasts.
Whatever may be said or sung by "sprlng
poets" in praise of the beauties of spring,
october has always seemed TO us the most
glorious season OF the year. The uncertain,
changeable spring. with It's nrduous and OF
ten perplexing duties, and the glowing. swell |
tering heats and dronths of summer have
passed away, and the cnoing, ripening, mel
lowing days ofmid.autumn: with the ,sn,. ho9n,
teOus results of the years labors-"helds
white unto the harvest" - are upon us.
Whatever of uncertainties and disappoint-
ments may have attended the pitching, plant
in the midst OF the certain harvest which fol-
lows toll. We Away liked to gather rather
than make q crop. In the discussion OF the
relative merits pursuit or possession OF an
object" as a spring Of pleasure-in youthful
days--we preferred to argue In favor OF posses,
81 Sn. But We will stop philosophizng and
take up the thread Of "rhoughts' that must
he woven through the years work.
COTTON.
It is perhaps not necessary torepeat what was
said last month In regard to the supreme i'm
portance of gathering he crop as rapidly as
possible. Every day that boil of cotton re-
mains In field after 1t Is fully bown-eVen IN
good wcather-detrncts from its market value
But one storm Of rain, or wind ana rain, olten
damages the value Of all open cotton az much
us one-third It's value, and sometimes even
who gathers, the most in day, Now Is the
time to employ extra labor. All the women
and children of oflaborers should be invited and
induced to lend helping hand to save the
cotton IN good condition.
CORN
While the cotton harvest should not be neg
lected, yet 1t is also important TO get the crop
into the cribs as soon as possible. Advantage
should be taken Of wet spells, and the days lol-
lowing storms, to gather the corn. Just ater
fields II the best times to put oil hands-ex-
cept the weaklings-to work In tho corn
In harvesting corn there arc points OF ad-
vantage in the details of the work that are
we'll worthy of attention. In our own en-
perence while Yet nio young lsmeT, %s @t
heap-row then following with another
SCI of hands and wagons, picking up tne
ears into baskets and so loading the wagon:
was tedious. wastelul and unsatisfactory. a
better plan Certainly where the land Is not
very broken) is 10 drive the wagon along the
rows, break off the corn and throw IT ut once
Into the wagon -Four nahas 70 Two %Te or drivar
take the row over which The wagon Is driven,
and two hands on each: side, with two rows
each. If the rows be very wide mana may
pull one row only. When the wagon Is filled
FALL hands follow IL to the barn or crib and
unload. The tenn will soon learn to ADOPT
their movement pretty closely 10 the speed o.
hands IN 'hs
trees and stumps at the command or the
driver. Advantages The ears are handled
but twice, from the stalk Into the wagon from
the wagon into the barn. There Is no time
lost hunting up the scattering ears that 1al
short of the heap, and very few ears VIII De
overlooked. The corn Is cleaner, having
never touched the ground. 1t save tlne'
SEED CORN.
While gathering the crop Is a good time TO
select seed corn, which should alway be
selected in the field and by the eye OF the
boss" Choice ears, from prolific stalks, the
ears we'll shanked and turned down at the
ends, may be cut with portion of the stalk
above and below, as n distinguishing mark
and stored apart when unloading. or Dag
be hung from the rear OF wagon into Whlch
selected ears may be put. II IS sun Detter,
however, 10 take more time and go over the
fields In advance of the gathering oil the main
crop. This Is one OF the most important OF
the small details that enter into the making
and gathering OF n corn crop, and one thut
should never be neglected. Selecting from
the bulk at seedtme Is better lar than no
choice at all, but IT. is much better 10 choose
from the stalk In the field ana than re.select
No infallible preventive of weevils in corn
has yet been dScovere If so, 1t is not general
vi known and praticed. Storing IN the shuck
tends greatly to Lesson the evil. Storing
while the shnck is wet is thought to add fur
ther protection.
crib. 1t is not at all difficult to make
every farmer should know that If he must
food such vermin. that little Rough on
Rats is u good rat food. "Tnerc are no good"
rats but-dead rats.
POTATOES.
Towards the latter part of the month or dur
In. the first week In November, the sweet po-
tatos crop should be dug. The plant being
a perennial, including the tuber, yet cultivat-
ed MS an an nual, there is no particular period
ms TO age when the latter altains ripeness.
they Will keep well without regard to nge or
size if the conditions at the time Of digging
and aftcrward are favorable. The ground
should be dry and the potato IN state OF sus'
pended growth. In regard to the age OF the
tuber, experience proves that the product OF
the latest planted patches keep better than
the earlier. Therefore the tuber from the last
should be banked separately for next years
seed. For the hills select high and dry
place, sandy or gravclly soil perierred. DRIVE
Il Stake-a piece Of fenc rail will do-into the
earth saw off about four high; make u low
circular ridge, like circus ring. six feet IN
diameter around the stake cover the ground
within the ring with thick layer OF dry pine
straw; now place the potatoes carefully,
make the heap as steepaS possible. Cover
with thick layer of pine straw or corn-straW
regularly disposed. II pine.straw be used
cover this with boards or pine.bark breaking
Joints. Then cover all with layed OF soil to
be dug from immediately around the base Of
the hill. This layer should no be thick at
first, but should be increased as cold weather
approaches until it finally attains thickness
left at the top, to be protected from rain by q
piece of board or bark. The object is to keep
ihe potatoes absolutely dry, and protected
from Sunuen changes Or.wide extremes o1 neat
and cold. Cut and bruised tubers should be
put in n separate hill and used first. Seed po,
tatoes should be chosen from the last planted
and put In IL seed hill. Small potatoes are as
good as any for seed, and "go further In sup
plying draws.
GRASS
This Is the latest month In which grass seeds
may be safely sOwn, except In the most
southern part of the cotton belt. Prepare the
land well, sow plenty Of seed, and be sure to
add $50 to 2DO pounds OF good commercial fer
tillZer per acre, and cover very lightly, or not
ut oil II sown Just before rain,
OATS,
This Is the main month for sowing full oats
In Middle and North Georgia and correspond
ing sections of other STATES. AS already urged
q liberal breadth should be devoted to this
grain, notwithstanding recent failures on
account of winter-kiliing. If the stand be not
materially affected by hard freezes, the fall
respects that the risk Of winter freezing should
not induce sole reliance on the equally un-
certain spring crop. Take both fall sown to-
gethcr, and the oats crop, more certain then
the corn crop, and c0rrcspondingly cheaper
There should always be seed reserved for re-
great pity that every acre of rolling cottt II
fields Is not sown In small grain or grass in
October. The cotton-tield Is the place to sow
fall oats. The method IS simple Let the
plows or cultlvators plow in the seed right
behind the cotton-pickers. The seed may be |
wetted and rolled in fertilizer and sown to-
gether. 1t Is an excellent way to secure easy
and regular distribution OF seed and fertilizer. |
WHEAT.
Not every farmer I'm the cotton belt should |